Nuclear Energy

History?

Uranium 235

• Used for nuclear fission

• Mined = non-renewable.

• Held in a fuel rod.

U Nuclear Fission• Splitting large, U radioactive atoms into

smaller atoms releases energy

Reactors in Operation

Nuclear Energy Basics

1. Uranium is processed to form

U-235; used as fuel in a rod.

2. U fuel rods lowered into heavy H2O (H2O w/ excess neutrons)

3. U Chain Rxn begins (U breaks up, heat is released. )

4. Water runs through core.

5. Water is heated up to steam runs a steam turbine to create energy.

Lowering

Fuel Rods,

Through

Heavy Water,

Into the Core

• FUEL RODS (12ft)

– arranged in a diamond

– last about 3-4 years

– every yr, about 1/3 are replaced

IN THE CORE…

Containment Rods:

absorb neutrons and

slow rxn

Nuclear Power Pro: Low rate of

accidents or deaths

Nuclear Power Pro: Little habitat loss

Nuclear Power Pro: No NOx or SOx

emissions

Nuclear Power Cons: Long ½ Life,

7 x 108 yrs for U-235

• High Level Wastes: Used fuel rods

must be stored underground (still

radioactive)

• Low Level Wastes: Put in steel

drums and dumped in ocean (not

much radiation)

Nuclear Power Cons: Storage

• Effluent water is warmer and released

in ocean animals hover

Nuclear Power Cons: Thermal

Pollution

Nuclear Power Cons: Suction Intake

Pipes Kill Larvae

Nuclear Power Cons: Nuclear

Accidents are Deadly

•Chernobyl

4/28/86

•Cooling

system

failed,

melting core

Melted U

Radioactive Cloud

Chernobyl

Effects

Disposal Plans

• Bury it : Yucca Mountain, NV

• Shoot into space

• Bury under ice sheet

• Bury under mud in oceans

• Break it down